How and why to pack snacks for a [road] trip.
Here are some reasons why you might plan to pack snacks ahead of travel:
Diet restrictions / food sensitivities
To be accommodating to travel companions with specific food requirements
Save some money
Lack of quality foods available at your destination
Save time by NOT hunting for nutritious, satisfying, filling foods
Keeping blood sugar balanced for the extra energy required when traveling
You get hangry, and don’t want to ruin a day that way
If you struggle with food sensitivities or are into eating clean(ish/er), getting the foods that make you feel good can be a challenge on the road. Don’t go hungry! Or in my case, hangry.
Here’s how:
Pack snack selections that are catered to your sensitivities and preferences. Don’t chance it. Traveling can be hard on the body, why add to it with last-minute, desperate options when you feel those hunger pangs coming? You can shorten your recovery time when you get back home by sticking to good-for-you food options.
Would you like to show your travel companions you love them? If you are someone with food sensitivities / allergies, your requests / needs can often go ignored. Not everyone gets what it is like to have seemingly yummy [normal] foods, that make you feel bad. Ask your travel buds what they eat. If you’re buying snacks ahead of time, try to accommodate them, too. They will love you forever for being so thoughtful.
Here’s where:
I Like to make a trip to somewhere like Whole Foods or Target because I know they have lots of gluten-free / dairy-free options. Or hit up a healthy / local grocery store when you get to your destination. Checking out local grocery stores is also a way to see what's in season food-wise at your destination and learn about the local food culture.
I still like to shop in stores, but you could always instacart if that's your jam. Have your items delivered the day before your trip so you’re not tempted to dig in too soon. If you don’t want to pack your snacks, consider ordering ahead from somewhere like @thrive market and have your items shipped to your destination. You should be able to coordinate with your vacation rental host or hotel. Explain to them you have special dietary needs and they should be more than accommodating. Now, if they see a bunch of Cheeto bags and snickers wrappers in the trash can after you asked them to accommodate special needs, you might get a bad review! But hey, you won’t do that because you want to eat well on vaca so you can feel good and have the energy to do the activities you want to do.
MAKE SURE YOU CHECK ALL INGREDIENTS. I recently picked up some banana chips that had gluten in them, who would have thought? Anaphylaxis is not an activity anyone wants to participate in while on the road.
STICK IT TO THE MAN. Most places you can get grab-n-go food know you want to do just that, grab and go. They charge a premium for snacky items, they know you’ll pay what they’re asking because it is convenient. You can save a few bucks by packing your own snacks ahead of time. Or hit up a healthy grocery store when you get to your destination.
Snacks don’t usually don’t weigh much if you want to put them in your checked bag. When road-tripping, there is usually plenty of space for a few bags of healthy food. Plus, it saves time at rest stops (It is usually a hunt to find healthy foods at the convenience store, in small towns, or highly commercialized areas - wasting precious time you could be spending getting closer to your destination or having fun / relaxing.
FUELING TO FEEL YOUR BEST. Properly fueling your body goes a long way toward keeping your energy up when traveling. Most convenient foods are high in fats and sugars. These foods make us feel good for a while, but we often feel a slump later. High-sugar / highly processed foods can also cause inflammation. Keep your joints from getting sore by eating quality protein and complex carbohydrates. I have some suggestions to make this a no-brainer for you for your next trip!
So what should you actually pack? ⬇️⬇️
Sample Snack Shopping List
Jerkey or meat snack sticks, I like talmock or chomps because they don’t add sugar.
Dried fruits - no sugar added. Great energy booster. Balance with a protein like jerky or nuts to keep blood sugar stable.
Something sweet like @boom kettle style - has far less sugar than candy
Something salty like regular potato chips. Many of us do not get enough sodium in our diet. Often when we think we’re hungry, we just need a little bit of salt. Plus, they’re yummy and you deserve to indulge a little.
Sparkling water - drink options at convenience stores can be very limited - keep some low / no sugar refreshing beverages on hand.
Kombucha is a great low-caffeine, low-sugar energy booster - plus it is good for your gut! I find it helps an upset stomach.
Nuts are the perfect balanced snack! Carb + protein.
Bars! Another well-balanced snack - make sure you pick some up with protein and watch for artificial sweeteners. I like laura bars or kind bars.
High-Quality dark chocolate is a way to indulge a little at the end of the day without regret
Clean, good-tasting water can be hard to come by at many commercial hotels and in many municipalities. Consider bringing your Berkie to-go water bottle. I don’t love buying bottled water for environmental reasons but you can save some plastic if you buy big jugs and refill your reusable water bottle.
Are you going to pack snacks for your next trip? Tag me on the gram.
